COVID-19: New Zealand delays border re-opening

New Zealand was to move to non-quarantine travel for New Zealanders currently in Australia from 16 January, has been pushed back to the end of February. The postponement was announced by NZ’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins at a Wellington press conference yesterday (Tuesday 21 December), as a reaction to the more transmissible Omicron variant.

Changed quarantine and pre-departure test requirements

New Zealand is also increasing the amount of quarantine time from 1 week to 10 days, and the pre-departure test requirement to enter New Zealand has been reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours before travel.

Air New Zealand will cancel 120 flights to the end of February as a result of the push-back.

New Zealand has reported 22 cases of the Omicron variant, fortunately, all in the border quarantine facilities with no community spread as yet.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

I have already rescheduled a trip to New Zealand twice. Third time lucky?